On Saturday 24 November 2012 Iceland Pirates voted the newest Pirate Party  into existence.

PP-IS Pirate Eva Þuríðardóttir told the Pirate Times;
“We were all so excited finally the day was here, an Icelandic Pirate party the air was electric both figuratively and literally speaking, it has been such a joy and privilege to work with such a cohesive and a talented group of people, what characterises this group is how ready and willing everyone is to work together for future undertakings, we are just beginning.”

There are seven “leadership” positions, two of which were chosen at random were Herbert Snorrason and Einar Valur Ingimundarson. There were 10 candidates running for the other five positions who were elected by the Single Transferable Vote  electoral system: Björn Þór Jóhannesson, Halldóra Mogensen, Jason Scott and Stefán Vignir Skarphéðinsson. The Icelandic Member of Parliament Birgitta Jónsdóttir was elected as “Captain” by consensus, meaning the count of Pirate MP’s worldwide increased by one. The party’s structure is to be flat meaning that the board meetings are open to all members – to quote Birgitta, “we have no leaders.”

Eva Þuríðardóttir said: “For me being a part of an international movement is a key factor. I believe that in the not too distant future the people of this planet will unite. Borders are increasingly becoming redundant, the Internet is connecting people worldwide and I believe that “the power” will be in the hands of the people and that we will be working together in how to best manage our societies through the Internet and that everybody will have a voice.”

If you are curious the Icelandic Pirate Flag bears the symbol of a fish, the stockfish and was used by Jørgen Jørgensen,  (Icelanders refer to Jørgensen as Jörundur hundadagakonungur: “Jørgen the dog days King”) a reference to the time when the dog star is in the sky, on the flag he ordered Iceland to use in 1809 when he assumed power over the island. It is his spirit of independence and doggedness that the PP-IS wishes to emulate. “We are a group a patient people so the Pirates are here to stay. “, said Bjorn Thor Jóhannesson

And who won the “Bullshit bingo”? Well in an egalitarian party everyone wins. As small and remote as Iceland seems, it looks like it will punch above its weight in the Pirate world.

Featured image: CC-BY  Eva Þuríðardóttir

About Andrew Reitemeyer

I joined the Pirate Party of Lower Saxony in Germany in April 2012, once I found out that non citizens were welcome to join and become active members of the Party.
I joined the Pirate Times soon after it was started as a proof reader and am now an editor and author. Since then I have returned to my native New Zealand and joined the Pirate Party of New Zealand.
Politically I come from the libertarian left and have, up to now, not regarded any political party as having a solution for the democratic deficit that envelops the world. With the advent of the Pirate Party, which truly embraces grass roots democracy, I have found a political home. The Pirate Times is a way I can contribute to furthering the Pirate Movement around the world.
Skype: frithogar

 

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On Saturday 24 November 2012 Iceland Pirates voted the newest Pirate Party  into existence. PP-IS Pirate Eva Þuríðardóttir told the Pirate Times; “We were all so excited finally the day…